Evolution of the Adversity and Resilience Coefficient in Panamanian Rescuers, 2020-2024
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56368/Entrelineas524Keywords:
Adversity Quotient, psychological resilience, firefighters, high-risk work environments, PanamaAbstract
To determine the influence of the Adversity Quotient (AQ) on the resilience of rescue personnel from the Panama Fire Department, a quantitative study with a comparative trend design was conducted using data collected between 2020 (n=24) and 2024 (n=21) using the Adversity Response Profile (ARP) and the Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). T-tests, Spearman's, and ANOVA were applied. The results showed a significant positive correlation between the total AQ and resilience (rs=0.74, p<0.01). The AQ distribution showed a decline between 2020 and 2024, with an 11% increase in the low level and the disappearance of the high levels. The Control and Resistance dimensions of the CORE model decreased significantly (p<0.05). The decline observed between the two periods confirms a negative impact of contextual factors such as the pandemic and organizational changes. It is recommended that intervention programs aimed at strengthening AQ, especially the Control and Resilience dimensions, be implemented as part of human talent management policies in emergency services.
Downloads
References
Bakker, A. B., & Demerouti, E. (2017). Job demands–resources theory: Taking stock and looking forward. Journal of Occupational Health Psychology, 22(3), 273–285. https://doi.org/10.1037/ocp0000056
Balaghi, M., Bijani, M., Sarvi, F., Razavi, M., & Parviniannasab, A. M. (2026). Investigating Person–Job Fit, Job Performance, Psychological Capital, and Job Burnout Among Pre‐Hospital Emergency Personnel: A Cross‐Sectional Study. Health Science Reports, 9(6), e72541. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.72541
Carrasquero, E. E. C., Játiva Coronel, F., Maldonado Vaca, I. M., Montaluisa Pilatasi, E. F., & Urquizo, S. (2017). Coeficiente de Adversidad en aspirantes a soldados del Ejército Ecuatoriano. Revista Cubana de Medicina Militar, 46(1), 40-51. https://n9.cl/qgkoc
Connor, K. M., & Davidson, J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale: The Connor‐Davidson resilience scale (CD‐RISC). Depression and anxiety, 18(2), 76-82. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.10113
Cuadros Mariños, V. B. (2026). Rol del afrontamiento al estrés en la gestión pública de emergencias: Revisión sistemática en bomberos (2010-2025). Cuestiones Políticas, 44(84), 142. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18735568
de Terte, I., & Stephens, C. (2014). Psychological resilience of workers in high‐risk occupations [Editorial]. Stress and Health: Journal of the International Society for the Investigation of Stress, 30(5), 353–355. https://doi.org/10.1002/smi.2627
Feder, A., Fred-Torres, S., Southwick, S. M., & Charney, D. S. (2019). The biology of human resilience: Opportunities for enhancing resilience across the life span. Biological psychiatry, 86(6), 443-453. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopsych.2019.07.012
Garrido Ibarra, R. (2025). Factores que influyen en la resiliencia del personal de rescate en Panamá. [Tesis Doctoral no publicada]. Universidad del Caribe.
Guo, Y. F., Cross, W., Plummer, V., Lam, L., Luo, Y. H., & Zhang, J. P. (2017). Exploring resilience in Chinese nurses: A cross‐sectional study. Journal of Nursing Management, 25(3), 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.12457
Hart, P. M., & Cooper, C. L. (2001). Occupational stress: Toward a more integrated framework. Handbook of industrial, work and organizational psychology, 2, 93-114. http://www.insightsrc.com.au/portal/resources/4ee81ac98c30d.pdf
Hutchinson, J. (2026). Protecting Those Who Protect Us: A Blueprint for Mandatory Mental Wellness Standards for First Responders. Faculty & Staff Scholarship. 3309, 1-9. https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/faculty_publications/3309
Informe Belmont. (1979). Principios Éticos y Directrices para la Protección de Sujetos Humanos de Investigación. https://www.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/informe-belmont-spanish.pdf
Isfahani, A. M., & Mehdad, A. (2022). Relationship between conscientiousness and adversity quotient with task performance: mediating role of intrinsic work motivation. International Journal of Psychology, 15(1), 7-42. https://bijp.ir/article-1-336-en.pdf
Kobasa, S. C. (1979). Stressful life events, personality, and health: an inquiry into hardiness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 37(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.37.1.1
Larson, R. B. (2019). Controlling social desirability bias. International journal of market research, 61(5), 534-547. https://doi.org/10.1177/1470785318805305
Li, H., Xu, Y. L., Jing, M. J., Wei, X. J., Li, L. M., & Guo, Y. F. (2022). The mediating effects of adversity quotient and self‐efficacy on ICU nurses' organizational climate and work engagement. Journal of Nursing Management, 30(7), 3322-3329. https://doi.org/10.1111/jonm.13773
Lommen, M. J., Näther, M., & Keller, A. C. (2025). Predictors of differential PTSD and depression symptom trajectories in firefighters: a growth mixture analysis. European journal of psychotraumatology, 16(1), 2535898. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2025.2535898
Luthar, S. S., Cicchetti, D., & Becker, B. (2000). The construct of resilience: A critical evaluation and guidelines for future work. Child development, 71(3), 543-562. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8624.00164
Masten, A. S. (2001). Ordinary magic: Resilience processes in development. American Psychologist, 56(3), 227. https://psycnet.apa.org/doi/10.1037/0003-066X.56.3.227
Reich, J. W., Zautra, A. J., & Hall, J. S. (Eds.). (2010). Handbook of adult resilience. Guilford Press.
Singh, S., & Sharma, T. (2017). Affect of adversity quotient on the occupational stress of IT managers in India. Procedia Computer Science, 122, 86-93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2017.11.345
Southwick, S. M., Bonanno, G. A., Masten, A. S., Panter-Brick, C., & Yehuda, R. (2014). Resilience definitions, theory, and challenges: interdisciplinary perspectives. European journal of psychotraumatology, 5(1), 25338. https://doi.org/10.3402/ejpt.v5.25338
Stoltz, P.G. (1997). The Adversity response profile. Peak Learning.
Vujanovic, A. A., Lebeaut, A., & Leonard, S. (2021). Exploring the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the mental health of first responders. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, 50(4), 320-335. https://doi.org/10.1080/16506073.2021.1874506
Widodo, W., Gustari, I., & Chandrawaty, C. (2022). Adversity Quotient Promotes Teachers’ Professional Competence More Strongly Than Emotional Intelligence: Evidence from Indonesia. Journal of Intelligence, 10(3), 44. https://doi.org/10.3390/jintelligence10030044
Woo, H. Y., & Song, J. H. (2015). The factors affecting the adversity quotient of nurses and office workers. International Journal of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology, 7(5), 1-10. http://dx.doi.org/10.14257/ijbsbt.2015.7.5.01
Yang, D. (2021). A Critical Review of Adversity Quotient Instruments: Using the COSMIN Checklist. Higher Education and Oriental Studies, 1(4), 35–44. https://doi.org/10.54435/heos.v1i4.31
Zhao, Y., Sang, B., & Ding, C. (2022). The roles of emotional intelligence and adversity quotient in life satisfaction. Current Psychology, 41(12), 9063-9072. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-021-01398-z
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
You are free to:
- Share — copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format
- Adapt — remix, transform, and build upon the material
- The licensor cannot revoke these freedoms as long as you follow the license terms.
Under the following terms:
- Attribution — You must give appropriate credit , provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made . You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
- NonCommercial — You may not use the material for commercial purposes .
- No additional restrictions — You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.




